Changes at airport welcome

Published: Sunday, June 17, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 15, 2012 at 4:28 p.m.

Legislation to create a true regional authority to run the Asheville Regional Airport should help resolve some longstanding disputes between the city of Asheville and Henderson County.

The legislation, House bill 522, introduced by Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Asheville, will strengthen Henderson County’s representation on the airport board, says fellow Republican N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady. McGrady is among supporters of the bill, which has passed the N.C. House and is expected to soon be approved in the Senate.

The airport has historically been under the control of the city of Asheville and Buncombe County. For a long time, the Airport Authority was made up of three representatives from Asheville and three from Buncombe County, with a seventh member appointed by authority members.

For a long time, Henderson County had no representation. The authority amended its rules several years ago to allow a member from outside Buncombe County to be appointed. McGrady served on the airport board when he was a county commissioner until he stepped down to serve in the House and was replaced by former county commissioner Bill Moyer. But with only one seat at the table, the county was never a full participant.

The current authority is established by an agreement but doesn’t have the legal standing of an authority established by law, McGrady says. Legislators were concerned that, under this arrangement, the city could one day take full control of the airport, leaving the counties with no say. Like the dispute over Asheville’s water plant in Mills River, this one has a long history.

Asheville, Hendersonville and Henderson County in 1936 purchased 122 acres in what is today the Fletcher Industrial Park for what was originally known as the Asheville and Hendersonville Airport. That site was hemmed in by mountains, preventing expansion, so Asheville voters approved a $1.2 million bond referendum to build the airport’s facilities at its current location.

Since it opened there in 1961, the airport (titled in the name of Asheville) has bought and disposed of other properties. For instance, the land where the WNC Agricultural Center now sits was originally acquired as part of the airport, even though it was located in Henderson County. Because the airport did not get approval from Henderson County, the county has long asserted that Asheville, which holds title to the land, owes it property taxes. Henderson County will give up its claims to back taxes against the city as part of the new legislation.

Under the new legislation, Henderson County, Asheville and Buncombe County will each have two seats on the authority board, with those six appointing the seventh member. This will make the authority board truly regional. That is good for Henderson County. After all, the airport sits on the county line and is a hub for economic growth in both counties.

Also under the bill, the WNC Ag Center will no longer be owned by Asheville but will become the property of the N.C. Department of Agriculture. When the state built the ag center about 20 years ago, the deal was structured as a lease in order to get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, but with the intention that the property would eventually be transferred to the state. That never happened.

The legislation would also prohibit the Airport Authority from using eminent domain to acquire property or from being able to acquire property in the adjacent Ferncliff Industrial park unless required by a federal agency for aviation purposes. The owners of Ferncliff, which is located in Henderson County, requested voluntary annexation several years ago into the town of Mills River. Mills River leaders are concerned that Asheville might try to seize property in Ferncliff for economic development purposes.

When Moffitt first introduced the airport legislation last year, Asheville residents complained it would “take” a city asset without compensation. What the legislation really does is establish a truly regional airport jointly governed by the local governments that have a major stake in the airport’s success. It also resolves some disputes that have festered over the decades that Democrats had a lock on power in Raleigh.

In the past, the word “regionalism” often rung hollow. Thanks to Moffitt, McGrady and other Republican leaders, that will soon no longer be the case where the airport is concerned.

<p>Legislation to create a true regional authority to run the Asheville Regional Airport should help resolve some longstanding disputes between the city of Asheville and Henderson County.</p><p>The legislation, House bill 522, introduced by Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Asheville, will strengthen Henderson County’s representation on the airport board, says fellow Republican N.C. Rep. Chuck McGrady. McGrady is among supporters of the bill, which has passed the N.C. House and is expected to soon be approved in the Senate.</p><p>The airport has historically been under the control of the city of Asheville and Buncombe County. For a long time, the Airport Authority was made up of three representatives from Asheville and three from Buncombe County, with a seventh member appointed by authority members.</p><p>For a long time, Henderson County had no representation. The authority amended its rules several years ago to allow a member from outside Buncombe County to be appointed. McGrady served on the airport board when he was a county commissioner until he stepped down to serve in the House and was replaced by former county commissioner Bill Moyer. But with only one seat at the table, the county was never a full participant.</p><p>The current authority is established by an agreement but doesn’t have the legal standing of an authority established by law, McGrady says. Legislators were concerned that, under this arrangement, the city could one day take full control of the airport, leaving the counties with no say. Like the dispute over Asheville’s water plant in Mills River, this one has a long history.</p><p>Asheville, Hendersonville and Henderson County in 1936 purchased 122 acres in what is today the Fletcher Industrial Park for what was originally known as the Asheville and Hendersonville Airport. That site was hemmed in by mountains, preventing expansion, so Asheville voters approved a $1.2 million bond referendum to build the airport’s facilities at its current location.</p><p>Since it opened there in 1961, the airport (titled in the name of Asheville) has bought and disposed of other properties. For instance, the land where the WNC Agricultural Center now sits was originally acquired as part of the airport, even though it was located in Henderson County. Because the airport did not get approval from Henderson County, the county has long asserted that Asheville, which holds title to the land, owes it property taxes. Henderson County will give up its claims to back taxes against the city as part of the new legislation.</p><p>Under the new legislation, Henderson County, Asheville and Buncombe County will each have two seats on the authority board, with those six appointing the seventh member. This will make the authority board truly regional. That is good for Henderson County. After all, the airport sits on the county line and is a hub for economic growth in both counties.</p><p>Also under the bill, the WNC Ag Center will no longer be owned by Asheville but will become the property of the N.C. Department of Agriculture. When the state built the ag center about 20 years ago, the deal was structured as a lease in order to get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, but with the intention that the property would eventually be transferred to the state. That never happened.</p><p>The legislation would also prohibit the Airport Authority from using eminent domain to acquire property or from being able to acquire property in the adjacent Ferncliff Industrial park unless required by a federal agency for aviation purposes. The owners of Ferncliff, which is located in Henderson County, requested voluntary annexation several years ago into the town of Mills River. Mills River leaders are concerned that Asheville might try to seize property in Ferncliff for economic development purposes.</p><p>When Moffitt first introduced the airport legislation last year, Asheville residents complained it would take a city asset without compensation. What the legislation really does is establish a truly regional airport jointly governed by the local governments that have a major stake in the airport’s success. It also resolves some disputes that have festered over the decades that Democrats had a lock on power in Raleigh.</p><p>In the past, the word regionalism often rung hollow. Thanks to Moffitt, McGrady and other Republican leaders, that will soon no longer be the case where the airport is concerned.</p>